Overview of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health status 2018 Core funding is Core funding providedis provided by the by the Australian Government AustralianDepartment of Department Health of Health The Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet The Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet’s mission is to contribute to improvements in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health by making relevant, high quality knowledge and information easily accessible to policy makers, health service providers, program managers, clinicians and other health professionals (including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers) and researchers. The HealthInfoNet also provides easy-to- read and summarised material for students and the general community. The HealthInfoNet achieves its mission by undertaking research into various aspects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and disseminating the results (and other relevant knowledge and information) mainly via the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet websites (healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au), the Alcohol and Other Drugs Knowledge Centre (aodknowledgecentre.ecu.edu.au) and Tackling Indigenous Smoking (tacklingsmoking. org.au). The research involves analysis and synthesis of data and information obtained from academic, professional, government and other sources. The HealthInfoNet’s work in knowledge exchange aims to facilitate the transfer of pure and applied research into policy and practice to address the needs of a wide range of users. Recognition statement The Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet recognises and acknowledges the sovereignty of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the original custodians of the country. Aboriginal and Torres Strait cultures are persistent and enduring, continuing unbroken from the past to the present, characterised by resilience and a strong sense of purpose and identity despite the undeniably negative impacts of colonisation and dispossession. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people throughout the country represent a diverse range of people, communities and groups each with unique identity, cultural practices and spiritualties. We recognise that the current health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people has been significantly impacted by past and present practices and policies. We acknowledge and pay our deepest respects to Elders past and present throughout the country. In particular, we pay our respects to the Whadjuk Nyoongar people of Western Australia on whose country our offices are located. Contact details Director: Professor Neil Drew Address: Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet Edith Cowan University 2 Bradford Street Mount Lawley Western Australia 6050 Phone: (08) 9370 6336 Fax: (08) 9370 6022 Email: [email protected] Web address: healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au © Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet 2019 This product, excluding the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet logo, artwork, and any material owned by a third party or protected by a trademark, has been released under a Creative Commons BY-NC- ND 3.0 licence. Excluded material owned by third parties may include, for example, design and layout, images obtained under licence from third parties and signatures. ISBN 978-0-6485071-0-9 Overview of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health status, 2018 Publication team Production editor Jane Burns Production coordinator Christine Potter Executive editor Neil Drew Contributing authors 2018 Jane Burns Neil Drew Michelle Elwell Millie Harford-Mills Joanne Hoareau Andrea MacRae Christine Potter Miranda Poynton Kathy Ride Avinna Trzesinski 2019 Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet Perth, Western Australia Suggested citation: Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet (2019) Overview of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health status, 2018. Perth, WA: Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet © 2019 Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet i healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ vi Key facts ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... vii Social and cultural concepts ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Social indicators .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population ..........................................................................................................................................................................3 Births and pregnancy outcomes ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 4 Age of mothers ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Total fertility rates .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 5 Antenatal care .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Birthweight......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Mortality ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Age-standardised death rates ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Expectation of life .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 7 Age at death ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Infant mortality .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 8 Causes of death .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 9 Maternal mortality ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 9 Expectation of life .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 9 Avoidable mortality .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................10 Hospitalisation ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 10 Separation rates ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................10 Age-specific separation rates .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 11 Causes of hospitalisation ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 11 Potentially preventable hospitalisations........................................................................................................................................................................................12